WETHERSFIELD - Unemployment claims for the two-week period ending February 9
averaged 54,077, down 595 or 1.1 percent from the previous period, State Labor
Commissioner Patricia H. Mayfield reported today.

Compared with the same period a year ago – when the number of claims statewide
totaled 52,762 – unemployment claims are up by 1,315. This is a 2.5 percent
increase.

Regular state initial
(first-time) filings decreased to 4,158 from the prior two-week level of 4,861.
Continued claims increased to 49,919 from 49,811. Included in these figures were
1,664 temporary filings. Regular benefits expired for 697 claimants.

The insured
unemployment rate, defined as continued claims filed during the most recent
13-week period, was 2.6 percent. This is up from 2.4 percent two weeks ago and
the same as one year ago.

Claims activity was
down in eleven of the fourteen Connecticut Department of Labor offices
throughout the state.